Manchester United: Memphis Depay vows to reclaim first-team role after 'easy' start at Old Trafford

Depay's recent form criticised and has been an unused sub in the club's last three league gamesGetty

Manchester United winger Memphis Depay admits he is going through a tough period despite an "easy" start to life at the club but is determined to force his way back into Louis van Gaal's first-team plans. Depay started United's first nine games in all competitions and provided glimpses of the form that convinced the club to part with £25m ($38m) for his signature in Champions League games against Club Brugge and PSV Eindhoven.

But the 21-year-old has also provided his share of underwhelming performances during his time at the club and was hauled off at half-time in key games against Arsenal and Liverpool, one of the clubs that showed an interest in him. The winger has since been an unused substitute in the club's last three league games.

The Netherlands international says he anticipated things being difficult this season, though, and insists he is busying himself on the training pitch to ensure his spell out of the first team comes to an end soon.

"Of course it's difficult when you're on the bench but it's going better right now and it's also going better on the training pitch," Depay told NOS, Goal reports. "So if I get my chance to play, I will take it.

"I think lots of things changed. I'm in a new club right now, it's a different level [to the Eredivisie]. Such things are playing a big role and you're trying to find your way and it was a bit easy at the start but then I fell back and you could see it in the way I played. But you can assume that I'm busy with working on that and getting back to the top.

"I feel fit and I'm trying to show on the training ground that I'm doing my best to perform well. People are used to see me score and that shall also come, it just takes a bit longer now but you'll have to find that form again."